Edward Theuns wins after thrilling battle between peloton and breakaway riders in Bredene Koksijde Classic, Eekhoff finishes third
CyclingFriday, 21 March 2025 at 17:36
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Follow us on GoogleEdward Theuns won the Bredene Koksijde Classic. In the spectacular 23rd edition of the Belgian spring race, Theuns – who had attacked 100 kilometers before the finish – proved to be the best after a thrilling battle between the breakaway riders and the peloton. Nils Eekhoff finished third, but there was also bad news for the Dutch today: Fabio Jakobsen, hoping to shine again this year, had to abandon the race early.
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After Nokere Koerse, where Nils Eekhoff sprinted to victory after his serious crash, and the Grand Prix de Denain, where top talent Matthew Brennan triumphed impressively in a small group, it was time for the next one-day race: the Bredene Koksijde Classic. Despite Milan-Sanremo, Belgium had several strong sprinters at the start, including Dylan Groenewegen, Milan Fretin, and Luca Mozzato.
These men saw six riders attack early in the race. The leaders, including three Dutch VolkerWessels Cycling Team riders, quickly built up a lead of more than two minutes. That lead seemed to grow for a moment until the wind picked up in the peloton, and things got very hectic.
Read more below!
Echelons play big role in first 50 kilometers; Jakobsen abandons the race
The pace picked up, and the peloton broke into pieces. The first part quickly caught the leaders, and the second part caught up with 150 kilometers to go. With 130 kilometers to go, the hilly zone, with the Kemmelberg being the cruelest part, came into sight. The pace picked up again considerably, eventually costing Fabio Jakobsen the lead. The Dutch rider abandoned the race not much later.
The peloton formed a single line again, forcing several riders behind the pack to drop back. Eight riders managed to break away from the peloton as they approached the second ascent of the Kemmelberg. Many riders realized they had missed their chance and launched a counterattack, creating several smaller groups. The chasing group, with Eekhoff, Florian Vermeersch, Edward Theuns, and Alec Segaert among the best-known names, stayed about half a minute behind the leading group.
Read more below!
Exciting battle in last 10 kilometers; breakaway riders win
Nevertheless, it proved difficult to get closer to the leading group. The cooperation in the leading group remained strong for a long time, but with 60 kilometers to go, the chasing group managed to catch up with the leaders, so the first group now consisted of fifteen riders. With De Moeren in sight, the pace in the peloton also picked up, leaving the leading group with only a minute's advantage over the peloton with 55 kilometers to go.
However, this proved futile for the peloton. With 40 kilometers to go, the peloton was still a minute behind the leading group, while the pace in the depleted peloton remained high. With 20 kilometers to go, the lead remained at around 40 seconds, and tension increased in both the leading group and the peloton.
With ten kilometers to go, the breakaway riders still had a half-minute lead, which was the signal for Tudor's men to take the lead. In the final kilometers, the escapees seemed to be caught, but miraculously, the breakaway riders remained ahead. The peloton caught up in the last few hundred meters, but it was too late for them to compete for the victory. In the sprint, the Belgian Theuns turned out to be the strongest. Eekhoff finished third!
Results Bredene Koksijde Classic 2025
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
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Latest Comments
- - Gran artículo, pero una duda: ¿por qué solo dos horas de reconocimiento? Eso suena muy corto para un Mundial. Merci!velodromevirtuoso119-09-2026
- - Wait, Rwanda 2025—did he really win last year by over a minute on Jay Vine? I thought the huge margin was two seasons ago. Feels like the article’s mixing editions?jennifer1919-09-2026
- - Fifth in Montréal after the Québec win isn’t a red flag. That parcours is punchier and the cadence demands are different. TT legs should be fine by Sunday. Allez Remco!davidm19-09-2026
- - Ganna’s “2–3 km” power is insane, but this is 39k. Over/under pacing will decide it. If Remco negative splits like Québec, he’s favourite. If it’s blustery, Ganna’s mass might help. Flip a coin.sprocketspiny19-09-2026
- - Remco’s right to be annoyed. Two hours for line choice, wind mapping, road surface, manhole locations, roundabouts, and turnaround pacing is tight. He’s meticulous—racetrack sessions, CdA dialing, the whole lot. Marginal gains win rainbow bands.andrewf19-09-2026
- - How does course reconnaissance actually help in a time trial if it’s mostly flat and straight? Is it just corner lines and wind spots, or are there other things they look for?bikebuffj19-09-2026
- - Minor correction: the Worlds TT is usually on a weekday, not Sunday the 20th? Is that a typo from the organiser or the article? Either way, Montréal flats + long straights scream Ganna vs Evenepoel. Can’t wait.gearguru3319-09-2026
- - Love the confidence from Remco, but two hours recon on a2km TT is a joke. Course knowledge matters at 55 kph. Still, if anyone maximises aero and pacing, it’s him.breakawaybikerd19-09-2026
- - Qué pena por Carapaz, pero la salud primero. Volverá más fuerte. Grande campeón!robert6519-09-2026
- - Slightly harsh take: announcing via “his own channels” isn’t unique to South America, it’s just modern pro sport. That line felt a bit stereotyped, to be honest.davidm19-09-2026
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